Ash Gourd Recipe | Kumbalanga Thoran

It’s possible you’ll know ash gourd by different names like white gourd, winter melon, white pumpkin and extra regionally as ‘petha’ in India. Right here, I’m sharing one in every of my most favourite ash gourd recipes, the Ash Gourd Thoran – a particular from the delicacies of Kerala in South India. It’s merely a dry flavorful dish which has no garlic, is vegan and naturally gluten-free. Fairly a nutritious choose, I might say.

About Thoran

Thoran is a fast, simple preparation that’s made by stir frying or sautéing greens with just a few spices, curry leaves, primarily in coconut oil and is completed with a heap of freshly grated coconut. Historically, a thoran is made sans onion and garlic. Nevertheless, I’ve added onion to this Ash Gourd Thoran.

The Ash Gourd (known as Kumbalanga in Malayalam) is among the many underestimated greens that’s obtainable in India and there are usually not many ash gourd recipes that persons are keen on. However belief me, the second you give this Ash Gourd Thoran a attempt, it will likely be an instantaneous hit in your style buds.

As a result of typically the palate is longing for one thing tremendous easy, soothing and simply comforting in any respect ranges. That is a kind of ash gourd recipes which ticks all these necessities and does justice to the aware approach of consuming.

Make thoran with completely different greens to get Beans Thoran and Cabbage Thoran. It is usually made with carrots and even greens like spinach and plantain peels. Aside from this Ash Gourd Thoran, the Beetroot Thoran is one other private favourite which you could attempt as effectively.

This dish can be part of the Onam feast ‘sadya’ and is usually consumed with a rice-dal or rice-curry mixture.

Extra on Ash Gourd Thoran

It’s simpler to make many ash gourd recipes if you’re in South India and even Western India like in Maharashtra and Gujarat. As in comparison with Northern India, the place it could be obtainable, however is especially used to make a typical candy with its namesake. The candy ‘petha’ is made with white pumpkin or ash gourd and is known in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.

I bear in mind my mom utilizing this vegetable to make ash gourd recipes like that of a Sambar and and some curries or sautés. This Ash Gourd Thoran too is one from her recipe assortment. Avial is one other well-known Kerala preparation with kumbalanga or ash gourd.

This Ash Gourd recipe is a straightforward and might be cooked inside minutes. Ash gourd has a texture just like bottle gourd (lauki), however has a definite style of its personal. So, ash gourd recipes will at all times style completely different than the remainder.

You may also take a look at this candy halwa from South India, known as Kashi Halwa which has ash gourd because the hero ingredient.

You may put together this Ash Gourd Thoran by including each onion and garlic, or none. Inexperienced chilies might be added in line with the extent of spiciness you want. The spices are all fundamental and obtainable a lot of the occasions in an Indian dwelling kitchen.

Genuine recipes like these must be made in coconut oil, so far as attainable. Nevertheless, when you have an aversion to this explicit oil, go for different vegetable oil. Including the grated coconut on the finish additionally enhances the flavour. So, attempt to not skip it.

Serve this Kumbalanga Thoran with dal-rice, sambar-rice or have it with chapati; the selection is totally yours.

Step-by-Step Information

How make Ash Gourd Thoran

Preparation

1. Rinse 200 grams ash gourd. Peel it first. Lower into halves or quarter it. Take away the seeds. Later chop into 1 inch items or cubes.

2. Measure all of the spices, chop the onion and inexperienced chili. Additionally, preserve the grated coconut prepared for the thoran.

Make Ash Gourd Thoran

3. In a pan, warmth 1 to 1.5 tablespoons coconut oil. Add ½ teaspoon mustard seeds.

4. Let the mustard seeds crackle.

5. Add ½ teaspoon cumin seeds.

6. When the cumin seeds sizzle within the scorching oil, add 1 medium dimension chopped onion or about ⅓ cup chopped onions or shallots or pearl onions.

7. Sauté the onions until translucent on medium-low warmth.

8. Add 12 to fifteen curry leaves and 1 finely chopped inexperienced chilli (about ½ teaspoon chopped).

9. Sauté for just a few seconds.

10. Now, add the chopped ash gourd.

11. Add ½ teaspoon turmeric powder.

12. Combine effectively and sauté the vegetable for a minute.

13. Cowl the pan and let the ash gourd cook dinner in its personal juices.

14. Maintain checking at intervals of two to three minutes. If the ash gourd seems dry, then add some water. Some ash gourd might require water whereas cooking.

Some ash gourd might not require water whereas cooking. It relies on the standard and water content material current within the ash gourd, so add water if required.

15. Prepare dinner for 7 to eight minutes or until the ash gourd is nearly accomplished and tender. Once more, the timing will range as per the standard of ash gourd, pan thickness and warmth.

16. As soon as the ash gourd is nearly cooked, add ½ cup recent grated coconut.

17. Combine the coconut effectively with the vegetable.

18. Add salt as required.

19. Prepare dinner coated for a few minutes.

20. Serve Ash Gourd Thoran as a aspect dish or with dal-rice or sambar-rice. You may also have it with chapati.

Extra Related Recipes To Attempt!

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This Ash Gourd Recipe submit from the weblog archives first printed in March 2011 has been republished and up to date on 6 August 2022.